Glamour model spared jail over Brighton nightclub toilet attack

A former Playboy Model of the Year walked free from court today after being given a suspended sentence for attacking a woman in a nightclub toilet cubicle in a jealous row over her husband.

Louise Glover, 27, struck Maxine Hardcastle's head against a toilet rim up to 10 times and tried to push her head down the lavatory during a night out in Brighton.

She was found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm following a trial at Hove Crown Court in December last year and returned to the court today, where a judge shouted at her to "shut up
and listen" after she repeatedly called out from the dock.

Miss Hardcastle - the daughter of 1980s musician Paul Hardcastle - was left covered in blood and suffered hair loss, facial bruising and scratches to her arms and legs in what Judge Charles Kemp
described as a "vicious and unprovoked attack".

It was motivated by an "irrational surge of jealousy", but more worrying, he said, was the "complete absence of any sign of remorse" from Glover.

Glover, dressed in a white coat and black miniskirt with black knee-high boots, called out from the dock several times during the hearing, which was delayed due to her late arrival.

When prosecutor Andrew Judge told the court she had a previous conviction for assaulting a police constable in 2001, she shouted: "No I didn't."

Glover could also be heard murmuring when he said she had received a caution for assault occasioning actual bodily harm following an incident in London's Pacha nightclub in 2005.

The judge warned her she would be taken down to the cells if she refused to be quiet in scenes similar to when she was found guilty and launched an angry tirade at him.

Handing her a 30-week prison sentence to be suspended for two years, Judge Kemp said the attack has continued to have an emotional and psychological impact on Miss Hardcastle, and she remains
unable to enjoy nights out as she did before.

He also referred to her self-consciousness as a result of her hair having been pulled out by Glover, and told her she of all people should understand what it is "to be robbed of those attributes".

"You, Miss Glover, are a woman who has made a living based on your appearance, your self-confidence and your outgoing nature," he said.

During the trial, jurors heard how the St Helens-born pin-up, who has made semi-naked appearances in magazines and newspapers, turned on Miss Hardcastle, telling her and friend Nancy Stillwell: "I
know what you Essex girls are like."

Miss Hardcastle and Miss Stillwell had been invited by Glover to a personal appearance she was making at a sports bar on December 15 2007.

Their 10-strong party moved on in the early hours of the following morning to the Oceana nightclub where Miss Hardcastle and Miss Stillwell went into the same toilet cubicle together.

Glover was heard outside and was let in by the other two women, but became agitated and accused them of looking at her husband, from whom she is now estranged.

While all three women were inside the cubicle, Glover - who was dressed in a pink Santa outfit - spilt an alcopop drink down Miss Stillwell's dress.

She left to dry her dress on a hand-dryer, leaving Glover and Miss Hardcastle alone inside.

But the court heard Glover quickly turned angry again, prompting Miss Hardcastle to try to placate her by telling her they would talk matters over when she was sober.

Miss Hardcastle broke down at points during her evidence as she said the trigger for the attack came after she told Glover: "This is all messed up."

At that point, she said Glover lifted up her arm and forcefully brought it down on her nose, causing her to hit her head on the back of the cubicle.

Miss Hardcastle said she "pleaded" with Glover to stop but she continued her attack.

Holding her by her neck, Glover repeatedly hit her head against the rim of the lavatory and afterwards tried to force her head down the toilet bowl.

The attack stopped after Glover's husband was heard outside the cubicle, telling her to calm down. But Glover replied: "Tell her to get off me first."

Glover told the court she acted in self-defence after Miss Hardcastle became emotional about apparent family problems and gripped her arms tightly.

She claimed Miss Hardcastle became "hysterical" after accusing her of not listening to her problems and claimed the further injuries she sustained were as a result of the cubicle door being kicked
in.

Quentin Hunt, defending Glover, said during mitigation that the attack had not been pre-meditated and it remained "a mystery" how the incident had descended into such violence.

Alluding to Glover's "difficult" past, he said there were "very troubling aspects in her background that go some way to explaining why she has what is an extremely short fuse".

Mr Hunt said Glover, whose last UK address was Audley Gardens, Loughton, Essex, had recently attempted to establish herself as a model in the US, but this would not now be possible due to her
criminal record.

"She has been abandoned by several commercial sponsors who were interested in working with her, including the Playboy brand," he said, adding that her career was now "in tatters".

In the dock, Glover looked down at her feet as she said: "My career is over now."

Judge Kemp said he would make no order for compensation or costs, but also sentenced her to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work in the community and ordered her to have no contact with Miss
Hardcastle for the next 10 years.

Can't quite figure out why the judge spared her from a jail sentence,the only possible explanation is that it's because it's a woman.It looks like oestrogen fuelled violence is acceptable as no doubt a man would have had an immediate jail term and not a suspended one.

Can't quite figure out why the judge spared her from a jail sentence,the only possible explanation is that it's because it's a woman.It looks like oestrogen fuelled violence is acceptable as no doubt a man would have had an immediate jail term and not a suspended one.jon s

Given that she is 27 and has a history of violence I am optimistic that this peice of work will see jail in the future. But another person will have to suffer in her path before that happens. Can't see why she got away with it this time. It leaves me feeling there must be more to this story

Given that she is 27 and has a history of violence I am optimistic that this peice of work will see jail in the future. But another person will have to suffer in her path before that happens. Can't see why she got away with it this time. It leaves me feeling there must be more to this storySpanners

This nasty,violent woman should have been sent to prison considering her past record.No doubt someone else will feel the effecs of her 'extremely short fuse' sooner or later.Another slap on the wrist again next time?

This nasty,violent woman should have been sent to prison considering her past record.No doubt someone else will feel the effecs of her 'extremely short fuse' sooner or later.Another slap on the wrist again next time?hove

Incredible.
She's convicted of a nasty assault.
She arrives late for sentencing at Crown Court.
She argues with the prosecutor and judge, and gets a suspended sentence.
Is it any wonder the public have absolutely no faith whatsoever in the justice system?

Incredible.
She's convicted of a nasty assault.
She arrives late for sentencing at Crown Court.
She argues with the prosecutor and judge, and gets a suspended sentence.
Is it any wonder the public have absolutely no faith whatsoever in the justice system?chroma

Hopefully next time she chooses to get all violent she will do it against someone like my wife who is a 3rd brown belt full contact kickboxer that can bench press 60kg, bicep curl 27.5kg and leg press 250kg, then she will get a taste of her own medicine, unfortunately this is the only way some people learn!.

Hopefully next time she chooses to get all violent she will do it against someone like my wife who is a 3rd brown belt full contact kickboxer that can bench press 60kg, bicep curl 27.5kg and leg press 250kg, then she will get a taste of her own medicine, unfortunately this is the only way some people learn!.Big Nasty

jon s wrote:
Can't quite figure out why the judge spared her from a jail sentence,the only possible explanation is that it's because it's a woman.It looks like oestrogen fuelled violence is acceptable as no doubt a man would have had an immediate jail term and not a suspended one.

I can tell you exactly why - it's mr leniency Judge Charles Kemp.
Look him up, and check his record of lack of custodial sentencing.

[quote][p][bold]jon s[/bold] wrote:
Can't quite figure out why the judge spared her from a jail sentence,the only possible explanation is that it's because it's a woman.It looks like oestrogen fuelled violence is acceptable as no doubt a man would have had an immediate jail term and not a suspended one.[/p][/quote]I can tell you exactly why - it's mr leniency Judge Charles Kemp.
Look him up, and check his record of lack of custodial sentencing.Nyberg

I see she has a religious cross around her neck. Twenty hell maries should make her okay, then she can go and beat somebody else up. Apart from that I really dig Essex girls and I wish she and I were available. She's great.

I see she has a religious cross around her neck. Twenty hell maries should make her okay, then she can go and beat somebody else up. Apart from that I really dig Essex girls and I wish she and I were available. She's great.freewheelingdom

Next time a woman is sentenced for a crime try comparing it to a similar one for a man - the woman ALWAYS gets far less punishment.

If women want equality, they have to accept it in ALL forms...!!

Seems too many men still think of women as damsels in distress!

Next time a woman is sentenced for a crime try comparing it to a similar one for a man - the woman ALWAYS gets far less punishment.
If women want equality, they have to accept it in ALL forms...!!
Seems too many men still think of women as damsels in distress!David523

chroma wrote:
Incredible. She's convicted of a nasty assault. She arrives late for sentencing at Crown Court. She argues with the prosecutor and judge, and gets a suspended sentence. Is it any wonder the public have absolutely no faith whatsoever in the justice system?

Completely agree; quite what do you have to do these days to actually be sent to prison - this kind of sentencing just continually sends out the message to would-be perpetrators of similar actions

[quote][p][bold]chroma[/bold] wrote:
Incredible. She's convicted of a nasty assault. She arrives late for sentencing at Crown Court. She argues with the prosecutor and judge, and gets a suspended sentence. Is it any wonder the public have absolutely no faith whatsoever in the justice system?[/p][/quote]Completely agree; quite what do you have to do these days to actually be sent to prison - this kind of sentencing just continually sends out the message to would-be perpetrators of similar actionsWiggsy

John Steed wrote:
the most appropriate works i can think off to discribe this person would be automatically asterisked so in am going to try trollop

my thoughts exactly!

nice work!

[quote][p][bold]John Steed[/bold] wrote:
the most appropriate works i can think off to discribe this person would be automatically asterisked so in am going to try trollop[/p][/quote]my thoughts exactly!
nice work!Mr Lahey